Small farms Latvia, Zemgale, Jēkabpils novads

The “Gulbji” Selonian homestead

Specializations

	Type	Description
	Local lifestyle	The “Gulbji” Selonian homestead is one of the very few places in Latvia where one can see a farm typical of the historical region of Selonia with its typical buildings. “Gulbji” is comparatively far from major roads and populated areas. The homestead is located in a landscape with forests, natural meadows and hills. There is a lake on the property, a spring and ponds. The farm grows vegetables, fruit, berries, and produces milk products. The hostess takes care of her collection of perennials and decorative garden. The family also keeps bees for honey, produces herb teas, makes sauna products such as scrubs, oils, and sauna whisks. The hosts are the 6th generation of the family living here. Rita is a gardener by profession, Juris is a master in crafts. They returned to the family home over 15 years ago. Rita and Juris believe that the special unique value of the house is in its Selonina spirit that is present in everything here - the household things made by ancestors, the inherited food recipes, traditions and customs passed down through generations. During the visit, the hosts will show guests around the farmstead and explain about the Selonian lifestyle - the traditional yard with its buildings, the garden and farming. After lunch, there is a choice of master classes in traditional Selonian crafts, foods or celebration of traditional festivities. PROGRAMME: Meeting the hosts. Introduction of the yard and buildings, a collection of tools and household items from the past. Visiting the decorative garden, the plant nursery and the herb garden. The hostess talks about developing and maintaining a garden in a rural environment, and the use of medicinal herbs. Lunch – Selonian traditional dishes. The hostess talks about Selonian food traditions, the most popular recipes and methods of cooking. A themed master class according to prior choice: making cheese, making butter, making ropes from flax tow, building a fence from wood sticks, making puzuri - Christmas decorations from straw, celebration of seasonal festivities.
	Agri Heritage	This is a typical regional farm with a traditional arrangement of buildings. You will learn about the everyday work of a farm and have a look at ancient farm tools and equipment. Programme: Introduction – the story of the Selonian people, traditional songs in the Selonian dialect. Demonstration of tools and work in the threshing barn. Smoke sauna – the story of the process, energising and healing powers, songs. Sudrabavots, the “silver spring” – an energetic place with clear and tasty spring water. Rare plants and birds like wild orchids and the kingfisher can be observed here. A barefoot trail through a garden collection of decorative and medicinal plants. Lunch. Optional: a theatre sketch in the Selonian dialect with the participation of the Gulbji hostess who is an improvisation theatre actress. While watching, visitors can enjoy the Gulbji home-made wine.

Certificates

Logo	Certificate name	Description
	Culture and history Latvian Heritage 10/02/2015	' This is one of the few locations in Latvia where you can find an active far that has the design and buildings of a typical farm in the historical region of Selonia. The owners collect antique household objects and offer a tour featuring medicinal plants, a black sauna and Selonian foods. They produce their own ingredients and work with other local farmers. Examples of Latvian cuisine include crêpes, barley soup, thick potato soup, sautéed beans in a special sauce, manna with fruit, bread soup with whipped cream, tortes, herbal teas and a special area dish known as zeppelins. Hosts: The Skrejāns family Preserving a traditional Selonian farm Upholding the culinary traditions of the Selonian tribes
	Culture and history Latviešu virtuve	Crepes, grit soup, cream of potato soup, beans sautéed in a special sauce, fruit dessert, bread soup with whipped cream, tortes, herbal teas.